Julie’s daughter, Dr Rebecca Montacute, said the lack of help contributed to her mum’s death.

She added: “To be honest, I’m still entirely in shock about it, but I miss her so much. I was just 26 years old when she died, you don’t expect to lose your mum then.”

Mental health struggles

Julie with her husband, Kevin (Image: Bristol Post)

Julie, who grew up in South Bristol, started struggling with her mental health in May last year. After attempting to take her own life at home, she was sectioned for the first time and taken to Hillview Lodge, near Bath Royal United Hospital (RUH).

For six weeks, she was treated by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) and then discharged home. But by January the following year, things got worse.

Rebecca said: “She had mild depression for a few years previously but this was the first time she had such severe depression.

“After she came out of hospital, she wasn’t 100 per cent as well as she was before but she could cope being at home. But all that changed in January.”

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Julie’s mental health had began to deteriorate, and her family was desperate to get help. Her husband, Kevin Carter, rang aftercare saying he was so concerned for her he was willing to drive her anywhere to be seen.

On February 4, she was taken to A&E at the RUH, but was again discharged. Her family say two days later, Julie was seen by a nurse from AWP, who said her medication needed to be altered.

But from that moment to the day Julie died, her family say she would not see another mental health expert from AWP, despite calls from them and herself.

Rebecca added: “In the conversations I had with her in January, on her birthday, she wanted to get better.

“She had engaged with the services. She didn’t want to be ill any longer. Mum wanted to get better.

“She wanted to move to Wells with my stepdad, and they were just weeks away from moving. She wanted to go on holiday to Spain again.”

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Crash on the M5

Julie with her daughter, Rebecca (Image: Bristol Post)

On February 18, Julie uncharacteristically went missing from home. Her family said they had not received any advice from AWP, and they did not know what to do. After texting her numerous times, she finally came home.

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The trust agreed to send someone to see her on February 27, which was more than a week after her crash on the M5.

A day after that call, Julie’s husband realised she was missing, after he left their home in Bishop Sutton for a short while. She was reported missing to police, who found her body in Chew Valley Lake’s sailing club a few hours later.

Rebecca added: “I think she probably either acted to take her own life, because she was so unwell at the time, or she acted out of confusion or fear, but either way, she desperately needed professional help.”

'No advice'

Julie with her children, Alex and Rebecca (Image: Bristol Post)

“After she died, I tried to get mental health support, but I’ve had to fight to get bereavement therapy,” Rebecca said.

“Considering how mum died, my faith in mental health services is now incredibly low. My stepdad only met my mum later in life, and they had 12 years together.

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“During the multiple points of contact we had with AWP, the Mental Health trust in Taunton, and mum’s GP, we were never told that it was unsafe to leave my mum alone, or given advice on how to manage her condition in the meantime, before she could be seen by her mental health team.

“If we had of been advised to keep her under constant supervision, between us we would have arranged so that she did not need to be left alone until the mental health team were able to visit and assess her.

“We would like to know why no such advice was given by the mental health team.”

Response

RIP Julie (Image: Bristol Post)

Medical Director for AWP, Dr Rebecca Eastley, said: “All staff involved in Julie’s care were deeply saddened by her death and we would like to offer our sincere condolences to her family.”

She added the trust would not comment on the circumstances around Julie’ death until the inquest was concluded.

A spokesman for Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park hospital, said: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Montacute.

“While we can’t comment on any individual patients, we can confirm that any patient from outside of Somerset who is seen at our emergency department (A&E) would be referred back to their GP once they had been discharged as the GP would have access to their full case history and be best placed to determine any ongoing healthcare needs.”

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Most people who are thinking of taking their own life have shown warning signs beforehand.

These can include becoming depressed, showing sudden changes in behaviour, talking about wanting to die and feelings of hopelessness.

These feelings do improve and can be treated.

If you are concerned about someone, or need help yourself, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123.